Goodbye 2015

Each year, I contemplate what kind of year I had.

I have had sucky years. Ones I could not wait to get out of. Then I've had amazing ones - ones that I was very sad to see go.

This year is a mix for me.

There were some amazing highs this year and some pretty bad lows too.

 I had some great times this year. I went on several amazing trips/vacations. Doug, Bri and I went to the beach and the mountains. I went back and visited the place I grew up. I spent lots of time with family and friends (both old and new) this year. I finally had my "me" weekend away that I so desperately needed. Bri did great in 3rd grade and continues to do so in 4th grade. She had lots of great times with her friends and cousins. She continues to thrive in soccer and running ~ and Doug led Bri's soccer team to win a championship. My parents celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary and I took them to see Barry Manilow in concert. I experienced every season to the fullest from snow in the winter to sun and sand in the spring/summer to amazing foliage in the fall. I got a beautiful new backyard with a stone patio. My kitty Mei Mei came into my life and she is the best cat ever ~ seriously. She helped mend my broken heart after the loss of my kitty Asia.

I had some painful lows too. I lost one of my best friends suddenly in March. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her, and the after effects of that loss are still lingering. Doug lost his uncle this year to a quick, aggressive cancer. I've struggled with sickness ~ from stomach issues to skin issues to back issues this entire year. I seem to go from one ailment to the next. It is so extremely frustrating. Lots of doctors appointments; lots of medications. I'm really over it. Briana had some "tween" type attitude come into play this year. Overall she is a really good kid, but there are those times that she can frustrate me like no other. She has had a lot (and I mean a lot) of school projects this year. That adds to her stress level which makes her kind of ornery. Which then makes me kind of ornery. Bri struggled with being on her new academy soccer team and decided to make a change. Doug traveled a lot this year (and I mean a lot) - which is a double-edged sword. Great that he is busy and working and not so great because he is gone a lot.

I already know going into 2016 that there are some hurdles I am going to have to get over. I will try to stay positive, but honestly, I am human and flawed ~ I can only say I will try my hardest.

My goal is to get healthier this year. And I know that will make me a happier person. I hope and pray I don't lose anyone this year. I lost both my grandmothers, Doug's uncle, a best friend and my cat in just the last 3 years. I have also watched several friends lose a parent over the last couple of years. I know that is an unrealistic request because of my age, but I'm not sure how much more loss my heart can take.

I have a beautiful roof over my head, food in my kitchen, insurance to see good doctors, a great husband, and an amazing daughter. You know you are spoiled blessed when you have the time and energy to get annoyed at little, stupid things people do around you or get huffy when someone doesn't take the time to "like" something on your FB page. So overall, life is good.

 So goodbye 2015. I am both happy and sad to see you go. I am going to dive head first into 2016. I have to tackle what is ahead of me. What else am I going to do?

(And I promise to be a better blogger in 2016. These past couple of months have been abysmal!)

Happy New Year everyone ~ hope 2016 is a healthy, happy and prosperous year for you all.

A Follow Up To My 5K Post

I still have a ton to write about regarding November and December, but I am going to quickly address a comment that was posted on my 5K post. An anonymous person commented that maybe Briana's actions during her 5K were more about being a team player (keeping her coach company and helping her along) rather than her not trying her hardest. After I read the comment, I pondered it for a few minutes.

Because the comment peaked my interested, I decided to ask Briana (again) her reasoning for lagging behind during the race. This race happened over a month ago, and we are completely fine and past all of it now. But, I decided to casually bring it up to Bri. Bri explained to me that her actions didn't have anything to do with team work or helping her coach along. She is certainly a great team player when it comes to soccer, but in this case, it was a different reason.

Briana loves her running club coach. Loves, loves, loves her coach. She is a strong female athletic role model and I am blessed that Briana is able to look up to her. In B's first 5K last year, her coach ran for time and endurance (and a parent volunteered to stay at the back of the group). Her coach is quite fast, and Bri tried to keep up with her but could not. So this 5K, Briana found an opportunity to run with her coach because she loves her so much (because in a regular situation, her coach would have been running for time and not hanging back). Instead of sharing this wish with her dad and me, she just decided to do it on her own. So that day, we interpreted her actions as being overly social and "not trying her best." 

The running club kids train for a 5K for an entire semester (every Thursday after school). And that entire time, the coach is building the kids' endurance and drilling into them that they are in "a race with themselves and no one else." She wants them to run for time and endurance ~ concentrating on themselves. So when you finally get to race day, you hope all that training comes into play. When Briana decided to hang back with her coach instead of pushing herself, no one got the real outcome of all her training.

I do believe that I (and Doug too) may have been a bit too tough on her that day. She is only 9. At that time, Bri had been exhibiting some "tween" type behavior and this event added to all of that. But since then, we have talked it all out. Bri told me that since she has had the opportunity to run along side her coach, she is now able to focus on doing her personal best next time. 

Bri and I spend so much time together, I know her like a book. And because of this, I know when she's got a different agenda and is not giving it her all (which she has a history of doing ~ she's done it in soccer, school, and now running). I've always told her that I don't care if she comes in last or fails a test, as long as she tries her best and stays on task, I'll be proud. 

So that is the follow up. Yes, I was a bit disappointed in her, but overall, B knows that I think she is the best kid ever. Let's see what happens in the spring.

Merry Christmas From Our Family To Yours

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas!!!

(I promise to be a better blogger from this point on! Christmas has been extremely busy this year! When life calms down a bit, I'll be back. I still have a lot to blog about from November and all of December!)

Briana's 2nd 5K

I know, I know. I haven't blogged in two weeks ~ again. I have to catch up on events that happened in November. I am so behind.

I made a promise to myself that this year that I was going to concentrate on getting ready for Christmas instead devoting more time to blogging. And I have to say, I am ready for Christmas. Earlier than I ever have been. All my presents are wrapped and all my cards are sent. I can't believe it.

And now I have some time to blog.

Briana's 2nd 5K was held in mid-November, and ironically, it was a tad bit colder in November in GA than it has been in December (it's supposed to be 73 degrees on Christmas -whaaaat?).

Briana was all bundled up for the run...

Being silly with dad...

The race was held at a small local airport and was a "1st annual" turkey trot 5K held by the Family Alliance of our county. With that being said, no one really knew anything that was going to happen. Most of the attendees were kids from Briana's elementary school. That part I really liked because a smaller group made it easier for the coach and volunteers to keep their eyes on the kids...

Briana was stoked when she got her number...

Of course, we had to get the all important running club photo opp...

Bri and her awesome coach...

Silly times with dad again...

One of the boys from running club asked Bri to race (which is always a good thing to do before running a 5K - heh). Of course Bri loves a challenge and she obliged...

She kind of smoked him (he is on the left)...

It was time for warm up...

They do the Whip/Nae Nae plus exercises to warm up...

Here is some video of it...

The participants lined up at the starting area and I immediately saw Bri gravitating toward her coach.

Several days before the race, Bri and I had a discussion about "worrying about herself and not anyone else." Last year, she ran her race in 37 minutes (rock star), but she helped a boy with some encouragement (he was getting tired because he didn't do what he was told ~ started out too fast and was trying to keep up with friends) and that actually slowed her down a bit (which bothered her). This year, I said if she was running for time, she could concentrate on herself if she wanted. Bri was on the same page with me until she started the race.

Bri's coach had suffered a broken foot at the beginning of the year, so she couldn't train for this 5K. She made the decision to stay at the back of the group (since she couldn't really run for time) to make sure all the kids crossed the finish line. Bri knew this information. And instead of running for time, doing her best and worrying about herself, she decided to hang back with her coach. You can see her in the picture below doing exactly the opposite of what we discussed...

Hanging back...

We waited and waited and waited and waited for Bri to go around the airport path.

I was really frustrated because I knew Bri was not being serious about this race. This race wasn't supposed to be a social event. I didn't get up at 6AM in the morning on a Saturday and pay a fee for the race for her to just hang out with her coach. She can do that at school. She trained for this race. Seriously ~ there was a kid with a boot on (broken foot) that crossed the finish line before she did.

Finally, she came in with the back of the pack...

She made it in just under 52 minutes...

Now, no one knew the path was gravel until the last minute and it is much harder to run on gravel. Bri told me she stopped several times to get gravel out of her shoes. Bri is not a "grin and bear it" kind of kid, so she stopped. But even with a gravel path and a couple of stops, it shouldn't have added 15 whole minutes on to her run. She is too fast for that.

It was definitely frustrating...

After everyone crossed the finish line, the kids got on the blender bike and made smoothies...

And Bri received a participation medal...

Of course we were proud she wanted to even run the race. And we were proud that she finished the race. We were only disappointed because she didn't try her hardest. That is all we have ever asked of her.

She got a bit of a lecture. We told her she won't be running in any more 5K's if she pulls anything like this again. She said she understands ~ we'll see.

On a lighter note, a few days after the race, it was the last day of running club for the season and they had an ice cream sundae party...

I scooped more ice cream that day than I even want to talk about! It was pretty chaotic! The kids enjoyed it though.

So, the plan is for Bri to sign up again for running club for next (spring) semester. There will be another 5K scheduled in the spring ~ so we will see how it goes!

My Beautiful Girl (And Neglecting The Blog)

I can't believe I haven't blogged since the 23rd! I am neglecting my poor blog. I rarely do that. I've been so busy ~ preparing for Thanksgiving, decorating for Christmas, helping Bri with several projects for school and going to way too many doctor's appointments.

I am so behind on blogging and I have so much to write about. I just need a few more days to wrap up Christmas stuff (shopping, decorating, wrapping, etc) and then I can try to catch up here. I'll be back ~ promise.

I did manage to take some photos of Briana for our Christmas card this year. The one above was the money shot. I love it. She just looks so beautiful and grown up in it. Sigh ~ how is she nine years old?

Anyway, I'll be back soon!

End Of The Soccer Season

I cannot begin to express how proud I am of Team Golden Eagles. Seriously ~ these girls are phenomenal. Their teamwork this season has been absolutely amazing. None of our girls had ever played U10 soccer before, yet they were placed in the toughest bracket in the U10 tournament because they had such an amazing regular season (2nd place).

There were a lot of hiccups getting to the tournament (which I stated in my last couple of posts). There was rain, rain and more rain that kept the tournament from being played the weekend it was supposed to be played. And busy schedules and field availability made it difficult to reschedule everything.

The Y decided to do an abbreviated tournament for U10 ~ the girls had to play one game and if they won that game, they would move on to the final. Originally, they were supposed to play 3 games and whomever won the most games would have moved on to the final. The abbreviated tournament was held on a Thursday night instead of on a weekend. We will probably always wonder would have happened if the girls had been able to play a full tournament on the correct days, but we won't ever wonder about how amazing the girls did play in the abbreviated one.

On a side note, I also had a hiccup with getting my professional photo of Briana from the Y. After several inquiries (over several weeks) as to when I would receive my photo with no response, I finally had to track it down through the company that took it. I found out from them that the Y had the photo sitting in the front office (with other photos I am sure) for weeks. No notification at all - from anyone. (It is so frustrating when people don't do their jobs ~ grrrr.) 

The picture at least turned out super cute...

Now back to the tournament.

 Our starters were all ready to go that evening...

And then we saw the competition.

The opposing team was comprised of girls that had played U10 last year and were also about a foot taller than our girls. We started hearing through the grapevine that these girls hadn't lost any of their games during the regular season (they play for the east side of the county; we are northwest) and they also always won by lots of points. No pressure.

You can see how tall they were...

 We were also a bit concerned because our ref was the same age and size as the girls on our team...

He actually did a really good job calling the game.

Briana was our throw in girl and goal kicker...

Our girls played strong and aggressively. There was one girl on the other team that looked about 14 (her mom assured everyone she was only 10) and she had a big kick. She was really good and she was the only one to score the two goals against us. Our defense was amazing that night.

We actually had possession of the ball more than the other team. All of our girls were all over that field and in total control. Briana was on fire with her footwork and was able to weave around the other team with ease. Her ball control is really amazing (and I swear I'm not just saying that as a bragging mom ;) ).

We had so many close calls to making a goal. Bri had one attempt that almost went in but it just went outside the goal. So, so close, but we just couldn't score.

And even though we lost, the girls only let the other team score 2 goals. No other team had done that.

When the whistle blew, you couldn't tell who had won because we were so proud of the heart and determination our girls had put into that game. They looked amazing.

Coach praised them during a pep talk after the game...

Go Golden Eagles!!!!

Let's loosen up a little...

Three nights later, we had our end of the season soccer dinner. The Y had provided medals for our girls getting second place in the regular season. And Coach Javier provided trophies...

Briana excited about her trophy...

Her trophy says "Now you see it, now you don't" and "I tried to go easy, I promise."

The first line is in regards to how Briana can get the ball around her competitors quickly and with ease. And the second line is actually pretty funny. In one of the games during the regular season, our girls were scoring a lot of points against a weaker team. To show sportsmanship, the coach asked the girls to hold back just a bit to not run up the score. It wasn't easy because the girls on our team are naturally aggressive, but they did try to hold back. And Briana expressed that sentiment to the coach after the game. :)

Here are our amazing girls...

I cannot wait for Bri to get back on the field in the spring. We had such a rough start to the season with academy not working out (though we learned from it), but then we fell right back into place with the rec team. It really was a wonderful ending to an amazing fall season.

It's Been A While (Another Challenging Week)

The rain we had been having in GA continued to fall the whole weekend before last and Bri's two day soccer tournament had to be postponed. That caused a bit of stress because no one had any idea as to when it was going to be rescheduled. Doug was going to be out of town all week last week (except for Friday) and Briana had a 5K scheduled for the following Saturday, so waiting to hear news about the rescheduled games was a bit nerve wracking. It worked out in the end with some changes to the tournament.

Some good news about last week was that the sun finally came back out on Tuesday. I am someone that usually loves a good rainy day, but it had rained for way too long and I was over it...

I ended up seeing an orthopedist on Wednesday for my lower back issues and was told to set up physical therapy. I start that this week. My other minor medical issue is still plaguing me as well, so it is hard to feel super upbeat when I don't feel well and can't seem to get well quick enough.

The one very bright spot of last week was the rescheduled soccer tournament (it was Thursday night). I'll do a separate post on it, but the girls played amazing. They didn't win their game, but they played their hearts out and looked like pros out there. It was amazing to watch...

And Bri did run her 5K this past Saturday (I'll do a post on that as well). Even though the weather was chilly and sunny that morning, it didn't end up being such a bright spot. Briana decided not to take the 5K very seriously and ended up being one of the last kids to finish. Yes ~ I'm happy she finished. But when a boy with a hurt foot (in a boot) crosses the finish line before your soccer playing, runs like the wind, 60 pounds soaking wet daughter, you know she ain't taking things seriously.

Here is the pack before the run...

Sometimes, I just don't know what I am going to do with her. And as with every child (hopefully), there are peaks and valleys in behavior. We are kind of in a valley right now. Bri's a really good kid overall, but she is stubborn and unmotivated and/or forgetful at times (when she has to do something she isn't "in" to). Trying to get her to do things that she isn't interested in (like homework) is like pulling teeth. And believe me, she loses items and privileges because of it. But, sometimes even that doesn't always modify her behavior. 

So, last week was still a bit of a challenge. And watching all the coverage on the Paris rampage over the weekend unfortunately added to that challenge.

Thanksgiving is next week, so I have to get on top of the way I'm feeling soon. I am hosting dinner at my house. I had a good day yesterday, and today, it isn't all that great. Praying that the rest of the week improves. Wish me luck on my PT. I'm kind of nervous about it.

First Week Of November (And Keeping It Real)

Well, here I am blogging again. Soccer ended up being canceled today because of all the rain. Now we have to try and make some tournament games up.

That is all it seems to do around here anymore ~ rain. I'm so ready for some sun and cooler weather.  

Some bright spots during our rainy week...

Bri had a student holiday on Tuesday from school (voting day), so we asked bestie Taylor to come over and hang out that afternoon...

I had lunch with two of my girlfriends this past week ~ one on Wednesday and one on Thursday. It's always good to have girl time... 

 Wednesday evening was the last soccer practice of the season (we were rained out of our Monday practice)...

The girls were practicing hard for the tournament...

Briana practicing her corner kick...

Love all these girls (and the wonderful coaches)...

Briana actually asked me to take a picture of her on Thursday. She liked her two long ponytails...

To be honest though, I've been struggling with some stuff lately. My back aches (I see an orthopedist on Wed). I have some other (minor) medical issues that popped up recently that I'm dealing with now as well. Some medical issues are plaguing my family too. Doug is super busy with work. I'm really missing my friend Carole ~ Thanksgiving was her favorite time of year. Of course, this Christmas will be very difficult without her here.

Briana got a couple of projects assigned last week that are due after Thanksgiving. As much as I wish she could do projects completely on her own, she is still only 9 and needs some minor advice and guidance at times. She has already had 3 projects that she has had to turn in and it's only November.

I hate to complain about things going on in my life because there are so many other people that are dealing with issues that are much bigger than mine. But, all this stuff clumped together is kind of bumming me out. I guess you can't help how you feel sometimes. I truly think the sun needs to come out soon (literally and figuratively).

Luckily, I have a constant companion that tries to lift my spirits...

I try to put on a smile for the world and I blog mostly about the good things in my life, but life can't always be perfect. I like keeping it real ~ and this is where I like to do it.

A friend of mine just made the statement to me "this too shall pass." I'm trying to hang on to that.